Capella University offers online psychology programs at the graduate level, including a Master of Science in Psychology with a Sport Psychology Specialization. Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and delivers all programs fully online, serving more than 51,000 students nationwide.
Capella University was founded in 1993 by Stephen Shank and Dr. Harold Abel with a focus on graduate-level programs for working adults. It is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is owned by Strategic Education, Inc. Today, Capella delivers all programs fully online across fields including psychology, counseling, education, business, information technology, and nursing.
Capella University Accreditation Details
Capella University has held institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1997. Accreditation was reaffirmed in 2022–2023 and is next scheduled for review in 2032–2033.
Several programs carry additional programmatic accreditation relevant to psychology and counseling students:
- The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS in School Counseling, and PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through March 31, 2028.
- The MS in Clinical Psychology (clinical counseling specialization) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) of the American Psychological Association (APA).
- The MS in Marriage and Family Therapy and MS in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
- Nursing programs (BSN, MSN, DNP) are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- The BS in Information Technology is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (FlexPath option not included).
The MS in Psychology, including the Sport Psychology Specialization, is not separately accredited by APA or CACREP. Prospective students with licensure goals should verify whether their target state license requires graduation from an APA-accredited or CACREP-accredited program before enrolling.
Capella University Application Requirements
All applicants must submit a completed application and official transcripts from every college or university attended. English language proficiency is required.
Degree-level requirements differ:
- Bachelor’s applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants under age 24 and applicants over age 24 with no transfer credits may be required to submit a high school transcript verifying graduation. Military and veteran applicants are still eligible for exceptions to this requirement.
- Master’s applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized, accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale. No application fee is required for the MS in Psychology program.
- Doctoral applicants must hold a master’s degree from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized, accredited institution.
Some programs require additional materials such as evidence of licensure or work experience, letters of recommendation, a resume, an extended goal statement, or an admission essay. Check the specific program’s admissions page for a full list, as requirements vary by specialization.
Capella University Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition is charged per credit in the GuidedPath format and as a flat rate per 12-week billing session in the FlexPath format. Current rates for psychology programs (from the 2024–2025 University Catalog):
- MS in Psychology (GuidedPath): $510 per quarter credit, plus a $160 resource kit per quarter
- MS in Psychology (FlexPath): $2,950 per 12-week session, plus a $160 resource kit per session
- PhD in Psychology (GuidedPath): $555 per quarter credit, plus a $175 resource kit per quarter
- BS in Psychology (GuidedPath): $415 per upper-division credit / $365 per lower-division credit, plus a $150 resource kit per quarter
- BS in Psychology (FlexPath): $2,500 per 12-week session, plus a $125 resource kit per session
Financial aid is available through grants, scholarships, and federal loans. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish eligibility. Capella accepts employer tuition assistance and offers tuition discounts to active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans, and their spouses and dependents.
Psychology Programs at Capella University
Capella offers online graduate psychology programs across multiple degree levels and specialization tracks. The program detailed below is the one covered in depth on this page. For a complete list of current psychology programs — including the MS in Clinical Psychology, MS in Applied Behavior Analysis, MS in School Psychology, PhD in Psychology, and PsyD in Clinical Psychology — visit Capella’s psychology programs directory. Students evaluating multiple schools can also browse online master’s in psychology programs ranked across institutions.
Sport Psychology Specialization — Master of Science in Psychology
The MS in Psychology with a Sport Psychology Specialization is a 60-credit online program that prepares students to work with athletic performance, motivation, and recovery. The curriculum covers foundational psychology theory alongside sport-specific applications, with an emphasis on designing programs for specific athletic populations.
The program is available in both GuidedPath (structured, instructor-led) and FlexPath (self-paced) formats. Researching sport psychology career opportunities to explore after graduation includes coach, athletic program manager, performance consultant, and fitness coach and instructor. Capella cannot guarantee any specific job title, promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome.
Required courses include:
- Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology Students
- Survey of Research Methods
- Ethics and Individual Differences in Psychology
- Learning Theories in Psychology
- Principles of Sport Psychology
- Performance Enhancement in Sports
- Applied Sport Psychology
- Current Issues in Sport Psychology
- Biological Basis of Behavior
- Integrative Project for Master’s Degree in Psychology
Students may be able to transfer credits from other accredited institutions. Contact Capella directly to confirm current transfer credit policies, course scheduling, and any additional program requirements before enrolling.
Browse accredited online psychology programs, compare degree options, and find application information for schools near you.